Jellyfin

Application1024MB+ RAM

Free media streaming server - alternative to Plex

Download Server Compass View Documentation

mediastreamingmoviestvplex-alternative

Deploy Jellyfin in 3 Steps

Connect Your VPS

Add your server credentials to Server Compass

Select Jellyfin

Choose from our template library

Deploy & Configure

Fill in settings and click Deploy

No Docker knowledge required

Video Tutorials

Learn How to Deploy Jellyfin

All tutorials

How to Self Host Jellyfin on Any VPS (Free Plex Alternative)

Learn how to self-host Jellyfin, a free and open-source media server (Plex alternative), on any VPS using Server Compass.

Watch tutorial

Command Line Setup

Install Jellyfin Manually

Set up Jellyfin yourself using Docker Compose and the command line.

Remote into Your Server

Initiate a secure shell connection to your server using the command below.

terminal

# Connect to your VPS
ssh root@your-server-ip

# Or with a specific SSH key
ssh -i ~/.ssh/your-key root@your-server-ip

First time? Docker required! Install it with: curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sh

Create the App Directory

Organize your deployment by creating a dedicated project folder.

terminal

# Create and navigate to project directory
mkdir -p ~/apps/jellyfin
cd ~/apps/jellyfin

Write Your docker-compose.yml

Create a new docker-compose.yml file and paste this configuration:

docker-compose.yml

services:
  jellyfin:
    image: jellyfin/jellyfin:latest
    ports:
      - "8096:8096"
    environment:
      - JELLYFIN_PublishedServerUrl=<your-server-url>
    volumes:
      - jellyfin_config:/config
      - jellyfin_cache:/cache
      - media_data:/media:ro
    restart: unless-stopped

volumes:
  jellyfin_config:
  jellyfin_cache:
  media_data:

Configuration Options

PORTHost port to expose(default: 8096)

SERVER_URLPublic server URL

Launch the Containers

Start the services and tail the logs to verify startup.

terminal

# Spin up containers
docker compose up -d

# Verify deployment
docker compose ps

# Check logs for errors
docker compose logs -f

Open Firewall Ports

Open the required port in your firewall to allow access.

terminal

# Allow the application port through firewall
sudo ufw allow 8096/tcp
sudo ufw reload

# Access your app at:
# http://your-server-ip:8096

Skip the Terminal

Want the easy way? Try Server Compass.

No terminal needed. Deploy Jellyfin through a visual dashboard with automatic configuration.

Visual config editor
Instant deployment
Automatic HTTPS
Smooth updates
Live monitoring
Quick rollbacks

Download Server Compass$29 one-time • Lifetime license

After Deployment

After deploying Jellyfin with Server Compass, complete these steps to finish setup

Complete the initial setup wizard

Add media libraries

Create user accounts

Configure transcoding settings

Need help? Check out our documentation for detailed guides.

Jellyfin FAQ

Common questions about self-hosting Jellyfin

How do I deploy Jellyfin with Server Compass?

Simply download Server Compass, connect to your VPS, and select Jellyfin from the templates list. Fill in the required configuration and click Deploy. The entire process takes under 3 minutes.

What are the system requirements for Jellyfin?

Jellyfin requires a minimum of 1024MB RAM. We recommend a VPS with at least 2048MB RAM for optimal performance. Any modern Linux server with Docker support will work.

Can I migrate my existing Jellyfin data?

Yes! Server Compass provides volume mapping that allows you to import existing data. You can also use standard Jellyfin backup and restore procedures.

How do I update Jellyfin to the latest version?

Server Compass makes updates easy. Simply click the Update button in your deployment dashboard, and the latest Jellyfin image will be pulled and deployed with zero downtime.

Is Jellyfin free to self-host?

Jellyfin is open-source software. You only pay for your VPS hosting (typically $5-20/month) and optionally Server Compass ($29 one-time). No subscription fees or per-seat pricing.